MPD: Man masturbates in front of child

Published 8:40 pm, Saturday, April 5, 2014

A Midland man was reportedly seen masturbating in front of a house while a 4-year-old girl stood behind the home’s glass door.

Christopher R. Howard, 27, was arrested Thursday on a warrant issued on suspicion of indecency with a child by exposure, a third-degree felony.

The Midland Police Department last month was called to the 1300 block of East Chestnut Avenue because multiple residents claimed to have seen Howard masturbating in front of a house, according to arrest affidavit.

Other neighbors came outside and told police that it was an ongoing problem, noting that Howard lives one block north on Jax Avenue, the document said.

Multiple residents took pictures and video of Howard masturbating and showed them to police, the report said.

MPD first arrested him on March 10 with an indecency with a child charge, but the Midland County District Attorney’s Office dismissed it and released him, the affidavit said.

An officer later requested a warrant to arrest Howard again, charging him with indecency with a child by exposure. As of Friday evening, he was still being held but bond had not yet been set.